Pubdate: Sat,  7 Dec 2002
Source: Denver Post (CO)
Copyright: 2002 The Denver Post Corp
Contact:  http://www.denverpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/122
Author: Kieran Nicholson

DA WORKER FIRED AFTER ACCUSATION

A juvenile case manager with the Denver district attorney's office is out 
of a job after a murder suspect accused him of moonlighting as a marijuana 
dealer, authorities said Tuesday. Manuel Folks, 27, left his job with 
District Attorney Bill Ritter's office Friday.

Folks had worked at the DA's office since May 2001 and managed a small 
juvenile diversion caseload last summer, Ritter said.

Folks' departure comes after Daniel Ferraro, 38, told Arvada homicide 
investigators that Folks sold marijuana to 28-year-old Jeffrey David Dickerson.

Ferraro is the suspect in the Nov. 25 shooting death of Dickerson in Arvada.

Folks managed 22 juvenile cases this summer, and the district attorney's 
office is in the process of contacting his clients and their families to 
see if any marijuana deals surfaced.

So far, "there is nothing to indicate that is an issue," Ritter said.

Like all employees of the DA's office, Folks was the subject of a 
background check before being hired, Ritter said. The check came up clean.

Ritter personally interviewed Folks before he was hired, he said.

Citing personnel issues, Ritter wouldn't say whether Folks was fired or if 
he resigned.

But Folks' attorney, Jeff Wittebort, said his client was fired.

"He has been terminated," Wittebort said.

Wittebort said he advised Folks not to talk to the press because of the 
ongoing murder investigation.

"The police have contacted him, and he has given them a statement," 
Wittebort said. "He has absolutely nothing to do with this death. 
(Dickerson) was his friend."

Folks has no criminal record, Wittebort said.

Dickerson and Ferraro argued over "issues relating to an individual selling 
drugs" to Dickerson, according to court documents.

That individual has been identified as Folks.

After the shooting, Ferraro told his girlfriend that he shot Dickerson six 
times, according to an arrest affidavit.

Ferraro told investigators the shooting was an accident, but he also said 
that if he had intended to "murder" anyone, he would have "killed Manuel 
(Folks)," the affidavit said.

Ferraro remains in the Jefferson County Jail without bond on suspicion of 
first-degree murder.

No charges have been filed against Folks, and he has not been arrested or 
cited.

"There is an investigation pending," Wittebort said. "But to my knowledge, 
there are not going to be any charges filed (against Folks) in relation to 
these matters."
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MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens